Indicating instrument for automobile-radiator.



H. H. BOYCE.

mmcumu msmumzm FOR AUTOMOBILE RADIATORS.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 5. 19!].

1,272,367. Patented July 16, 1918.

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p QM, LAT/ A Arm/awn the provision of -means'for attachment of,

UNITED: STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HARRISON H. 10YCE, 0! FOREST HILLS, NEW YORK.

INDICATIN;G INSTRUMENT FOR AUTOMOBILE-BADIATORS.

Specification 0! Letters Z Patent.

Patented July 1c, 1918.

Original application flied J'une20. 1914,,ser1a11voLa4sa47. Divided and this application filed April 5, 1917.

Serial No. 159,906.

To all whom it may concern I Be it known that I, HARRISON HURLBERT Boron, a citizen of the United States, and

a resident of Forest Hills, county of Queens,

and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Indieating Instruments for Automobile-Radiators, of which the following is a specificabe hereinafter full Y set foilth.

An important 0 ject pf-the invention is the instrument td'the filler cap of the radiator, wherebythe instrument may be correctly positioned, In mostautomobiles, the

radiatpr is provided at the'top with a projecting filler spout Whieh is threaded at the upper end and which is adapted to be closed fa'by a filler cap properly threaded for engagement with threads of the filler spout.

A desirable place for the attachment of-the indieating instrument is to mount it on this filler cap. Itis objectionable, however, to secure the instrument fixedly to the filler cap for the reason that it is. frequently difiicult, if not impossible, to rotate the cap when screwing it to the filler spout always to the.

. the proper angular position in alinement by the action of the engine and the move-..- ments of the wehicllinamli to pre zzpt th g- 'b'lit f 'ts wor oose re 1 .or g js1 1 y o 1 g 1 permit the bulb to'be influenced sur with the radiator, and with its face turned squarely in the direction of the drivers seat but it would on the contrary frequently occupy an oblique and unsymmetrical position where it would detract from the, appearance of the automobile and would frequently be difficult to read from the drivers seat. In some cases in fact its reading would be 1m- ,possible, At the same time it is absolutely necessary to mount the instrument firmly and securely so as to enable it to withstand the severe vibrations-to'which it is sub ect Lcoming'det-ached or injured.

difiiculties by providing for a firm connection between the instrument and the filler cap which, however, is of such a nature" as to permit a relative turning movement between the two. In this way the cap may be screwed up tightly irrespective of the angular position of the instrument and the in strument may then be oriented with respect to the lane of the radiator or axis of the automo ile so as to cause it to occupy the correct position for appearance and observation.

Another objeetof the invention relates to the provision of means for effectually protectin the bulb of the instrument during and a ter the attachment of the same to the stl'unient, filler cap and filler spout, the

plane of section through the body of the instrument being indicated by line 11-11 in Fig. 1. I we Referring to the drawings in detail, the numeral 1 designates the upper'part of a radiator, such as an automobile radiator, which is provided with the filler spout 2. The latter is shown as screw-threaded as at 3. This spout is adapted to be tightly closed in the usual manner by a removable cap 4 having the internal screwthr'eads 5. The

instrument 6 is shown as of the general form illustrated in my Patent N 0. 1,090,776, dated March 17th, 1914, and comprises an annular body portion or frame 7 having a. base 8 which is adapted to rest on the upper surface of the filler cap. The body portion or "of the instrument, the bulb 10 at the lower end of the tube-being located a suitable dis- ;tance. below thebase 8.- .The downwardly projectingpart of tube and bulb are preferably protected-=by arliollow stem 11, which is provided with opemngs 12 seas to" rounding temperatures. The instrument is so constructed that the upper pcirtion oi the tube 9 is visible so'that temperature ludications may be observed by the driver of the the stem is provided with a serew thread 16 on which is screwed a) nut 17' which acts through the interposed washers 18 and 19 against the underside of the. cap. One of these washers is preferably of a yielding characeer so to permit of a tight but not immovable connection between the instrument and the filler cop. As illustrated the washer 19 is shown es 2. split spring washer for thispurpose. It will be seen that with i this constmietion the nut 17 may be screwed up so as to clamp the instrument firmly to Y suit in its the filler cap thereby preventing leekege,

rattling or any objectionable movement. At

the some time, the connection between the instrument and the filler cap is a frictional rather than u positive one and permits the turning of the instrinn'ent inde'iendently of the filler cup. It is thus possi le to screw the filler cap firmly in position upon the filler spout without regard to its'final engulnr position and then turn the instrument upon the filler cup until it is properly loouted. T his capability is an important one in the practical use of a device of this character mounted upon a. filler cap as it is not possible elweys to bring the filler. cap tothe same position upon thejfille'r spout. I For instance, the threads on the filler cep and spout may become worn thus permitting the cop to turn further before seating than it did originally. if the instrument were fixedly mounted on the cap this'would rebeing turned out of its proper ulined position. This could only be correcttube or other downwardly.projectin of the instrument against breakage. cordunce with this part of the invention I ed by turning the cap part way up, whichwould be objectionable in rendering the cap liable to work: loose and in permitting leekage eroundkthe esp. With my construction the canine}? always be turned until it fits tightly on the spout without regard to the position. of theinstrument, after which the latter may be corrected.

Another feature of my invention relates to means for protecting the bulb and downwardly projecting port of the thermometer part n so ,sev

provide a sleeve 25 preferably long enough to extend approximately to the bottom of the thermometer bulb and which in the perticuler embodiment of the invention shown, forms an extension of the nurt 17. This sleeve serves to prevent the wrench employed to'screw up the nut when attaching the instrumentfrom striking and injuring the bulb .or stem. The sleeve also makes an additional protection for the bulb when the instrument and cup ore removed, as in filling the radiator. The sleeve is preferably knurled at the lower end, as indicated at 26, in which case it provides 9. convenient means for screwing up the nut without reaching up into the cup. As shown, the sleeve is provided with perforations 27, so as to permit the full action of the temperature upon the bulb.

The numeral 30 designates an opening extending through the casing oi the instrument for ventilating the interior thereof so as to prevent condensation of moisture on the crystals.

ill "hills I have described in detail but one preferred embodiment of my invention, this is to be understood merely as illustrative thereof, and it will be understood that my invention may be embodied in various structures. The difierent features of my invention need not. be employed in one construction, but may be separetelyutilized if desired.

This application is a division'ol my an plication, Serial No. 846,247, filed June 20th, 1914.

ber and a portion adapted to be influenced by conditions within the radiator and pro member, and yielding clemping'meens for geeting through the hole in said closure Having thus described my invention, 1 i

frictionully and rotatably but firmly and] tightly clamping said instrument to said closure member. I

QIIn indicating instruments 'for'the rediutors ofvehicle-propelling motors, the cornbination with a radiator filler spout'hsving a screw threaded upper end and a copier closingseid filler spout and threaded to engage the threads of said spd'ut, said cap having an opening through it,-of an instrument for indicating thermal conditions inside the radiator comprising a frame with a' bees adapted to'rest on top of said cap, said in strument having a stem adapted to project through the opening in said cap, and means engaging the underside of said cap and said stem for clamping the rap trictionally between said means andsaid base, said instru- "ment being capable of rotation on said cap so as to permit the position of the instrument to be corrected after the cap has been screwed upon the/tiller spout.

3. In indicating instruments for the radiators of vehicle propelling motors, the combination with a screw thremied tiller spout and a screw tln'mded cap adaptedto screw on said spout and close the same. said cap having a hole theretlnough. of an instrument for indicating thermal conditions inside the radiator ,,ha\'ing a frame provided with a base adapted to rest on said cap and a screwthreaded stem projecting freely through the hole, and means for adjustably and frictionally securing said instrument to said cap, said means including a nut screwing on said stem beneath said cap, whereby the position "of the instrument may be adjusted by'turning the same with relation to the cap, after the cap has been screwed upon the tiller spout.

t. In indicating instruments for radiators of vehlcle propelling motors, the combination with a radiator filler spout and a cap ,1 adapted to close the spout and to be engaged with said spout for rotary movement,

said cap having a hole therethrough, ofmn instrument for indicating thermal conditlons inside the radiator comprising a frame having a base adapted to rest on said cap and having a stem PIOJQCUHg freely through said hole, said stem being exteriorly screw threaded, a nut screwing on said stem inside ot the cap, yielding means interpose between said nut and the inside of said cap whereby the cap is yieldingly but firmly clamped between the instrument base and said nut, and temperature responsive indicating means carried by said instrument,

part of said means being exposed to view .in the frame of the instrument and a part of the same projecting through the base and stem of the instrument to a position be low the cap.

- 5; In indicating means for the radiators of vehicle propelling motors, the combinatron-with a radiator having a filler opening and a cap therefor, and connections for the cap whereby the cap may be drawn tight by a turning movement, said cap having a hole therethrough, of an indicating instrument comprising a frame having a stem projecting through the hole in said cap, a glass tube thermometer carried by said frame and having its bulhed end extending into said stem, and yielding clamping means for friction ally and rotatably but firmly and tightly clamping said instrument to said cap.

(5. In an instrument of the character described the combination of a frame having a baseadapted to seat upon a radiator cap having a hole therethrough and a stem adapted to project through the hole in said cap, temperature responsive indicating means carried bysaid frame and including a depending fragile portion and means for clamping said instrument to said cap in eluding a portion adapted to be screwed on tive sleeve adapted to bescrewed on said stem below sai cap and to'surround and protect the thermometer bulb, said sleeve being provided with perforations.

8. In an instrument of the character described, the combination of a frame having a base adapted to rest upon a radiator cap and having a downwardly projecting screw threaded stem, a glass tube mounted in said frame and having a portion projecting through said stem, and a combined clamping nut and protective sleeve adapted to screw on said stem to clamp said instrument to a 'adiator cap, said sleeve having a faceted head at the upper end thereof and a knurled portion at the lower end thereof and being provided with a-series of perforations be tween said head and knurled portion.

HARRISON H. BOYCE. 

